The Dutch remember their war dead with two minutes silence

The national Rembrance Day ceremony with the king and queen took place on the Dam in Amsterdam without incident, police said on Friday.

There were 11 arrests in the Dutch capital, two of which involved ‘disturbed’ people, police said. Four people were arrested because they were not carrying ID and four others because tear gas was found in their car.

King Willem-Alexander and queen Maxima laid wreathes at the war memorial in front of a packed square. The ceremony was also watched by some five million television viewers, broadcaster NOS said.

During the two minutes silence at 8pm, public transport was halted – including some 330 trains – and road users were urged by matrix boards to stop at a car park.

At Schiphol airport, there were no take offs and landings during the two minutes and passengers in the terminal buildings were also asked to remain silent.

On May 4 (Remembrance Day) the dead of World War II and all subsequent military conflicts are remembered. On May 5 (Liberation Day) the liberation of the Netherlands by Allied troops is celebrated.